Blair's division remained at Milliken's Bend to protect our depots there, till relieved by troops from Memphis, and then he was ordered to follow us.

Our route lay by Richmond and Roundabout Bayou; then, following Bayou Vidal we struck the Mississippi at Perkins's plantation.

Thence the route followed Lake St.Joseph to a plantation called Hard Times, about five miles above Grand Gulf.
The road was more or less occupied by wagons and detachments belonging to McPherson's corps; still we marched rapidly and reached Hard Times on the 6th of May.

Along the Bayou or Lake St.
Joseph were many very fine cotton plantations, and I recall that of a Mr.Bowie, brother-in-law of the Hon.

Reverdy Johnson, of Baltimore.